Would This Steam You, Too?

#1

Would This Steam You, Too?

Posted: 7/21/07 at 7:44am

I auditioned for a local production of Urinetown at the end of June. I was not cast, but several of my friends were. I was auditioning for the role of Hope. I am a lyric soprano and physically look the part as well.

The part of Hope went to a girl who is an alto. An ALTO. Obviously, she must know the director because Hope is a soprano. This really steams me...my friends are telling me that she's proclaiming that she can't hit the notes and that they're going to have to lower the keys for her.

Ugh. Just makes me mad.

Would you be mad, too? Just wondering....I seem to be having a hard time getting over this. And it's just community theatre.

#2

re: Would This Steam You, Too?

Posted: 7/21/07 at 7:49am

Look at the last four words of your post.

Move on.

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#3

re: Would This Steam You, Too?

Posted: 7/21/07 at 7:50am

Yes I would definitely have my feathers ruffled. You're right - more than likely they were partial to her for less than professional reasons. Shrug it off and move on to something better. :)

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2010

Feb. 28 - Looped, Feb. 28 - Next to Normal, March 4 - Hair, March 11 - A Little Night Music, March 24 - Time Stands Still, April 6 - La Cage Aux Folles, April 10 - Anyone Can Whistle (City Center), April 10 - Looped, May 9 - Enron, May 15 - A Little Night Music, May 15 - A Behanding In Spokane, May 30 - A Behanding In Spokane, May 30 - A Little Night Music, June 20 - A Little Night Music, June 23 - Red, June 23 - Sondheim on Sondheim, July 13 - A Little Night Music, July 18 - The Grand Manner (Lincoln Center)

#4

re: Would This Steam You, Too?

Posted: 7/21/07 at 8:55am

I'd be angry too, and I'm sorry to hear that you were overlooked for a part that you deserved. If it makes you feel any better, my community theatre does that too. The parts usually goes to whoever has the best connections - people who are friends with the director or members of a family that donated lots of money to the theatre.

Don't let it bother you too much.

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"It's a goddamn beautiful day, shut up!"

#5

re: Would This Steam You, Too?

Posted: 7/21/07 at 9:08am

My vocal range changes all the time. When I played Javert in a production of Les Mis my part had to be put higher...but that's another story...

As SeanMartin said, it's best to move on. I imagine you're annoyed but, whatcha gonna do?

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A little known fact is that in the original screenplay, Pan's Labyrinth was Pan's FLAByrinth. Hmmmmmmm...glad they changed it.

#6

re: Would This Steam You, Too?

Posted: 7/21/07 at 9:10am

"I'd be angry too, and I'm sorry to hear that you were overlooked for a part that you deserved."

How do you know it's a part she deserved? Because she's a soprano? Maybe the girl who go the part is a better actor. Changing keys of songs happens all the time. I bet if it had been an Alto role, and tinkerscanne had gotten the part, but needed to have the keys raised, she wouldn't say she didn't really deserve the role.

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"Just a Guy. Your feelings are touching. I am gladdened by the thought that you will one day wind up 6 feet under as we all do." - MrRoxy ------ "I do not suggest you walk out the door onto a New York street with your vulnerable child part exposed and not protected..." - Jason Bennett

#7

re: Would This Steam You, Too?

Posted: 7/21/07 at 9:23am

OK, I didn't say it was a role I "deserved" and I certainly didn't feel entitled to it. As far as the acting goes, they didn't even have this girl read for the role of Hope, yet they gave her the part. I did get to read for the role and was told that I did a great job by the casting panel and the other auditionees.

I will definitely go and see the show because I want to support my friends and I'm quite curious to see how the casting works out.

#8

re: Would This Steam You, Too?

Posted: 7/21/07 at 11:31am

Does it occur to you that singing too well doesn't exactly fit the overall spirit of the piece?

#9

re: Would This Steam You, Too?

Posted: 7/21/07 at 11:39am

Even if the girl is an alto, do she have a better voice than you? We don't really know the details.

#10

re: Would This Steam You, Too?

Posted: 7/21/07 at 11:48am

It sounds more like a disappointing moment than an angry one.

When you audition, you are not entitled to anything. Decisions are made on the whim and fancy of the directing team. We all had to get used to it too!

Disappointment is generally a healthier feeling than anger, anyway, so brush it aside and start planning for your NEXT audition!

GOOD LUCK!

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"To love another person is to see the face of God!"

Updated On: 7/21/07 at 11:48 AM

#11

re: Would This Steam You, Too?

Posted: 7/21/07 at 12:06pm

Umm, get over it?

#12

re: Would This Steam You, Too?

Posted: 7/21/07 at 12:08pm

re: "Disappointment is generally a healthier feeling than anger, anyway, so brush it aside and start planning for your NEXT audition!"

yeah, but it's a lot more fun for the rest of us to see her running around with steam coming out of her ears, isn't it?

#13

re: Would This Steam You, Too?

Posted: 7/21/07 at 12:15pm

HAHAHA!

So true, G!

Hopefully She's wearing her "Diva in Training" sweats to warn others!

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"To love another person is to see the face of God!"

#14

re: Would This Steam You, Too?

Posted: 7/21/07 at 12:24pm

It is not who you know but who you blow.

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"you freakin freaks. get a ****in life. theres more to life than this stupid website." stage manager 2

#15

re: Would This Steam You, Too?

Posted: 7/21/07 at 12:51pm

There are all sorts of different factors involved in casting - physicality, chemistry - all sorts of things.

It's disappointing, but generally a good idea just to focus on doing your best, and know that what comes your way is for a reason (and generally for the best.)

#16

re: Would This Steam You, Too?

Posted: 7/21/07 at 1:02pm

Here's what you do. Anonymously contact John Rando and John Carrafa's lawyers and drop some hints inferring that their direction and choreography are being illegally copied.

Remember to give the name of the theatre company, the director and the choreographer.

Sit back and watch as the news articles start to pop up on Backstage and Playbill.com.

Run, Freedom, Run!

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"Winning a Tony this year is like winning Best Attendance in third grade: no one will care but the winner and their mom."
-Kad

"I have also met him in person, and I find him to be quite funny actually. Arrogant and often misinformed, but still funny."
-bjh2114 (on Michael Riedel)

#17

re: Would This Steam You, Too?

Posted: 7/21/07 at 1:04pm

I wouldn't worry about it. Shake it off.

I knew someone who has an amazing soprano voice. She got passed over for a lead in COMPANY for a woman whose voice is nowhere near as good, etc. But it happens.

My friend later got cast as Eileen in WONDERFUL TOWN.
Broadway Blog: Film Musicals: The $50 Million Answer (and 50 Amazing Broadway Performers in 50 Weekdays)

#18

re: Would This Steam You, Too?

Posted: 7/21/07 at 1:34pm

If you weren't cast AT ALL, that doesn't speak well for YOUR talent, after all, it is JUST COMMUNITY THEATRE.

Unless you have hard evidence, she was cast because she was better than you. Get a life, this is theatre...

#19

re: Would This Steam You, Too?

Posted: 7/21/07 at 1:41pm

It's community theater. It's all about politics. I auditioned for FAME once and I didn't get it, but the guy who did get my part got it because his dad refused to build the sets for the show if his son didn't get cast. It's just community theater, it's not the end-all of theater, and the production will probably suck, so don't feel too bad. It's all about who you know and politics. Sometimes the best person doesn't get cast, but that can be said for Broadway too.

#20

re: Would This Steam You, Too?

Posted: 7/21/07 at 1:54pm

Tinker... politics rears its ugly head in many artistic areas... local, state and national. You have a natural right to be angry and disappointed. After a period of reflection, it's prolly best to concentrate on something else. Good luck in your future auditions/roles.. RC in Austin, Texas

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"Noel [Coward] and I were in Paris once. Adjoining rooms, of course. One night, I felt mischievous, so I knocked on Noel's door, and he asked, 'Who is it?' I lowered my voice and said 'Hotel detective. Have you got a gentleman in your room?' He answered, 'Just a minute, I'll ask him.'" (Beatrice Lillie)

#21

re: Would This Steam You, Too?

Posted: 7/21/07 at 2:10pm

Although I understand your frustration- maybe the director decided to go a totally different direction. What if you looked exactly right for this part but the director decided he/she wanted to be a maverick and try something different for community theatre? Everything happens for a reason so just feel proud of the fact that you did your best at the audition and you got another audition experience under your belt! I think it's great that you're going to support your friends. Keeping a healthy attitude is always a good thing. Just don't let this situation eat at you. Your day will come!

#22

re: Would This Steam You, Too?

Posted: 7/21/07 at 2:20pm

This actually happened to me, too. My friend and I both auditioned for 42nd street, and the two girls who got Peggy and Dorothy were both sopranos, and I was set as Dorothy's understudy, which made me somewhat angry because I'm a strong alto and I could hit the notes better, and they had to change the music to fit the sopranos.

But I ended up having fun with the part I got (Andy, they had to switch it from guy to girl. Odd, right?) and my friend who got Dorothy ended up looking like an idiot.

It all turned out well in the end.

#23

re: Would This Steam You, Too?

Posted: 7/21/07 at 2:56pm

"she was cast because she was better than you."

Unless, by some wild chance, you are the one who cast the piece, there is no way you can make a statement like that.

#24

re: Would This Steam You, Too?

Posted: 7/21/07 at 3:11pm

First of all, I can make whatever statements I want. And second, I am practicing the theatrical equivalent of "You are innocent until proven guilty."

Unless this whiny girl has ANY proof that the other girl was cast for unethical reasons, I will assume she was cast because she was better suited for what the creative team saw for the role.

Furthermore, if tinkerscanne has so much "talent," why was she not cast in the show at all, a show that needs a strong ensemble? How would you know if she didn't read for the role? Honestly, I think you are just making up stuff to fit your story.

You didn't get cast, get over it...

Updated On: 7/21/07 at 03:11 PM

#25

re: Would This Steam You, Too?

Posted: 7/21/07 at 3:11pm

You say several of your friends were cast, but not you. Were you willing to take an ensemble/smaller role, or was it Hope or nothing?